David reid



(No Model.)

D. REID.

MEANS FOR SEGURING STBRBOTYPB PLATES.

No. 410,923. Patented Sept.. 10, 1889.

l Ivzvfizf/f: Jamie? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

DAVID REID, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

MEANS FOR SECURING STEREOTIYPE-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,923, datedSeptember 10, 1889.

Application {iled August 13,1888. Serial No. 282,601. (No model.)Patented in Victoria July 6, 1888, No. 5,953; in New South Wales July 9,1888. No. 768; in New Zealand July 26,1888,No. 3,134, and in EnglandAugust 11, 1888, No. 11,621.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known thatI, DAVID REID, publisher, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at No. 112 Flinders Lane, East, in the city ofMelbourne and British Colony of Victoria, have invented a new and usefulImproved Means for Securing Stereotype-Plates to their Base-Blocks, (forwhich I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, dated August11,1888,No.11,621; in Victoria, dated July 6, 1888, No. 5,953; in NewSouth Wales, dated July 9, 1888, No. 768, and in New Zealand, dated July26, 1888, No. 3,1340 of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an improved means for securingstereotype-plates to their baseblocks; and it refers moreparticularlytothat method of or means for securing stereotypeplates totheir base-blocks wherein a key is employed which in section forms adouble dovetail, the upper dovetail of which is flttedintoacorresponding `groove on the under or back side of thestereotype-plate,while thelower dovetail is fitted into acorrespondingly-shaped groove on the upper face of the base-block; but Ihave found in practice that this arrangement for securingstereotype-plates to their basebloeks is defective in some respects,inasmuch as it is incapable of adjustment. Now, according to my presentinvention I still retain the double-dovetail key, but Imake it in two ormore thicknesses, and the upper part of it in two or more stripslengthwise, and Iso conn'ect the upper part of the key with its lowerpart as to make it susceptible of adjustment, so as to provide for anypossible inequality in the face of the stereotype-block. By making it instrips lengthwise I am enabled to more accurately adj ust any part ofthe face of the plate which requires adjustment, and the best means Ihave found for effecting the vertical adjustment of the upper plates ofthe key, and consequently of the face of the stereotype-plate,fis bymeans of two sets of screws, the one of which connects the upper platesto the lower plates of the key, and the others of which form thesupports for the upper plates and constitute the means for adjusting it.This will be better understood on reference to my drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a stereotype-plate,adjustable double-dovetail key, and base-block. constructed according tomyinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the adjustable double dovetail keyhereinbefore mentioned. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an elevation anda plan of one of the screws for vertically adjusting the upper part ofthe key.

That part of the drawings which is indicated by the letter A representsthe baseblock formed with an undercut dovetail groove a, to receive thelower dovetail b of the key B, while the upper dovetailbof same fitsinto the undercut dovetail groove c in the under side of thestereotype-plate C.

D D represent ordinary screws holding the upper and the lower plates otthe key together, while E E represent the adjustingscrews, formed, asshown, with a shoulder eto bear against the-under side of the upperportion of the key B, whereby its thickness may be readily adjusted byreason of the said screws raising the strips of which the upper portionof the key B is constructed, as shown.

The operation ot' my invention is as followsthat is to say, assumingthat the printing comes up faint at any part, thereby indicating thatthe stereotype-plate is not perfectly fiat, then it is only necessary,first, to slacken the screws D at or about the faint part, then tounscrcw the adj usting-screwsE at or about the same part, so as to raisetheir shoulders, and thus raise that part of the upper portion of thekey so as to correct the inequality in the printing-plate. Analternative method of adjusting the face of the stereotype-plate is todispense with the adj usting-screws E and to use thin metal liners orwedges between the upper and lower plates of the key; but Iprefer to usethe screws E. Further, this adjustment may be also effected even if theupper part of the key be made of one plate, instead of two or more; butI prefer to make such upper part of the key in three strips or widths,as'shown.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim as my improved means for securing stereotype-plates totheir base-blocks is- 1. An adjustable double-dovetail key B,

IOO

Consisting,l of an upper and a lower part suitably connected together,substantially as herein described and explained.

2. An adjustable double-dovetail key con! plate, of an adjustabledouble-dovetail key for securing the plate to the block, said key beingrcomposed of a lower section provided with screw-threaded openings, andan upper section formed of a plurality of longitudinal strips providedwith unthreaded openings of less diameter than those iu thelowersection, in combination with adjusting-screwshaving a threaded portionof the same diameter as the threaded bearings in the lower key-section,and a head of less diameter than the openings in the upper section toVform ashoulder upon which the strips of said upper section rest,substantially and for the purposes specified.

DAVID REID.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WATERS, W ALTER SMYTI-IE HAYs'roN.

